Hours

"Far better it is to dare mighty things,to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure,than to...live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."

- TheodoreRoosevelt

Schilling is the embodiment of a dream that four brothers and a father conceived over a decade ago—an aspiration to spend their days together pursuing family, community and excellence through crafting the finest artisanal European-inspired beers.

“It gives us, the Schilling family, tremendous joy to share our dream with you in every pour.”

About Schilling Beers

We brew progressive continental European-inspired beers that we are personally passionate about. These beers tell a story about us—where we’ve been, where we’re going, and what we value. We brew in small (7-barrel) batches, and many of these beers will never be distributed beyond our brewery’s taproom by choice. We believe that enjoying fresh Schilling beer in our converted 18th-century grist mill on the Ammonoosuc River offers an unparalleled drinking experience–one that allows us to showcase both our passion for beer and love of the North Country.

Many of our beers are available only at our brewery’s taproom in Littleton, NH. We distribute in limited quantities (i.e. when we have enough beer) to select craft beer retailers in Vermont through Vermont Beer Shepherd and in Massachusetts via Craft Collective.

Our Brewery & Taproom

We believe that craft beer is best enjoyed in community and within a specific sense of place. Our educated staff and unique location—on the banks of the Ammonoosuc River in a carefully renovated three-story 1797 gristmill—provide an optimal environment to do just that.

Food to Pair

We offer rustic Neopolitan-style pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven, local meats and cheeses and other plates designed to pair with our beers. Our food is rustic, simple and fresh, emphasizing local sources whenever possible.

The Schilling Team

Dr. Bruce Cozzens, Chairman

Bruce is Schilling’s Chairman. He has longed to be in business with all of his sons, and together they decided to make their dreams a reality and opened Schilling Beer Co. in Littleton in September 2013.

A practicing veterinarian for over 40 years and current president of the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association, Bruce never could persuade his sons to join him in the veterinary field, so he decided he would team with them to brew European-inspired beers while he continues to practice in Northern Michigan.

Bruce and his wife Kathryn have five grandchildren and multiple pets. Kathryn has a background in design and textiles from Michigan State University. Bruce sold his first veterinary hospital in 2007, and recently opened a new facility in 2013 in Traverse City, Michigan.

Like his sons, Bruce enjoys fishing and reading, and is involved in church and community service projects. Bruce attended University of Michigan for undergraduate studies and earned his doctorate from Michigan State University. He looks forward to the future, when he is able to give back to the community of Littleton, which has been so welcoming and supportive of his family’s business, Schilling Beer Co.

Bruce is ominously and affectionately referred to by the other partners as “Grey Goat.” Don’t mess with the Goat!

John Lenzini, Head Brewer & President

John was in education as a teacher of chemistry, coach, and administrator of nearly 20 years before co-founding Schilling Beer Co. John spent the better half of a decade living in German-speaking Europe and traveling throughout central Europe. Schilling’s beers are influenced significantly by his experiences on the continent.

John is married and is the proud father of two boys. When not overseeing Schilling’s brewery operations, John can be found skiing, fly-fishing, and otherwise enjoying northern New England’s rich landscape. He holds an undergraduate degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan.

Jeff Cozzens, Chief Executive Officer

Jeff spent almost two decades as an international relations professional prior to co-founding Schilling. Despite working in a field that he loved, he could never shake the dream of brewing European-inspired beers together with his family.

Jeff joined forces in 2011 with his best friend, brothers, and dad to extensively research locations for their brewery in Northern NH and Vermont. After reviewing over a dozen potential sites, they settled on Littleton as Schilling’s home. With its vibrant Main St, warm citizens, and the unparalleled natural beauty of the White Mountains, the decision was an easy one. There, Jeff and his partners renovated a circa 1797 grist mill on the banks of the Ammonoosuc River, in collaboration with Renaissance Mills Littleton, and Schilling was born. Jeff’s wife, Monica, designed Schilling’s interior.

When not enjoying John’s beers, Jeff can be found fly-fishing with John and Stu, exploring the North Country with his wife and daughters, and carrying on about the Detroit Lions. He has undergraduate degrees from Wheaton College (IL) and Michigan State University, and a master’s degree from the University of St Andrews (Scotland), where he also conducted PhD research.

Evan Semiao, YeastMan & Brewer

Evan is Brewer at Schilling. The first staff member hired, Evan is a graduate of University of Vermont and holds a B.S. in microbiology. We call him “Yeast Man.” His past times include swimming in stunningly cold water and snowboarding, but not cutting his hair (at least until our St. Baldrick’s Day charitable event–a must-see).

Stuart Cozzens, Chief Operating Officer

Stuart Cozzens is Schilling’s Chief Operating Officer. Known to howl at the moon, he has a degree in business from Hope College, and postgraduate degrees in religion from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and theological ethics from the University of Aberdeen. Stu enjoys hiking and fishing, cooking mean trout sandwiches on a campfire, and spending time with his wife and children.

Matt Cozzens, Chief Financial Officer

Matt and his family live in Traverse City, MI. There, he and his business partner, Jim Smolak, operate 7 Monks Taproom & Low Bar. Matt’s decision to join the Schilling Team was easy given the ownership group, the quality of Schilling’s growing product line, and the warm and welcoming environment of Littleton, NH.

Matt is a graduate of Michigan State University and a beekeeper in his spare time.

James Smolak, Partner

Jim was born and raised in Michigan, and worked in the sales and customer service industry for over 20 years. He currently co-owns and operates 7 Monks Taproom and Low Bar in Traverse City, MI, alongside his business partner, Matt Cozzens. Jim, a graduate of Western Michigan University, is by far the most obnoxious Detroit Lions fan within the Schilling partnership.

Our Community

Nestled in the shadow of New Hampshire’s majestic White Mountains, Littleton is the cultural, economic and recreational hub of the North Country. Rated by many travel publications as one of the top ten best small towns in America, this picturesque New England gem offers something for everyone: fine dining and art galleries, unique shops, historic buildings, a covered bridge in the middle of town spanning a trout stream (right next to Schilling), and a vast array of outdoor activities for all seasons and skill levels.

Incorporated in 1784, Littleton soon became a commercial and cultural center for New Hampshire’s North Country. Perched on the banks of the Ammonoosuc and Connecticut rivers, Littleton developed first as a mill town, manufacturing a vast array of goods. Today, with a population around 6,000, it continues to serve as the North Country’s cultural and economic core, offering a bustling, award-winning Main Street, and the progressive feel of a “Mountain Town”. Fly-fishing, skiing nearby peaks, and trekking through some of the most serious backcountry on the East Coast merges seamlessly with Littleton’s burgeoning arts and culture scene.

The town’s location in the scenic White Mountains and its mix of small-town charm and modern convenience has earned Littleton numerous accolades, including the first New Hampshire Profile Community Award for conveying the state’s spirit of independence and being named a “Top Ten Dream Town” by Outside magazine. In 2014 Fodor’s Travel named Littleton as one of America’s “Best Main Streets”.

Schilling Beer Co. is proud to call Littleton home.

News & Events

Catch up on brewery news and events here through our Instagram feed and blog posts.

The 2017 Ammonoosuc Oktoberfest (Sept. 22-23): A riverside celebration of artisan beer and community in the White Mountains When “world-class beer,” “culinary delicacies” and “mountains in the fall” are discussed in the same breath, Bavaria comes to mind. But here in the White Mountains, along a trout stream that meanders through one of the most pleasant […]

Good morning! Eighteen months following the creation of our current website, we bring you…the first blog entry! This inexcusable delay is largely due to the fact that we, Schilling’s ownership, have erroneously thought that we would/could regularly post on the blog. Hah! Our apologies for the empty website space. We will remedy this in the […]